Following is the audio record in Montenegrin of President Filip Vujanović’s oath prestation, in Cetinje, Montenegro, May 20:

Following is the text of President Filip Vujanović’s address at investiture ceremony, in Cetinje, Montenegro, May 20:

I assume the highest post as the President of Montenegro, respecting in particular a present value attributed to this post — the value of being the first President of independent Montenegro.

Montenegro was independent Monarchy that received international recognition at the Berlin Congress a hundred and thirty years ago. Being located on the geographic boundary of the East and West, Montenegro was naturally exposed to the other countries’ aspirations to rule over it. For this reason, the history of Montenegro was, in fact, the history of fight for freedom and struggle for creation or restoration of its own state. Having in mind its multi-confessional struggle for freedom and statehood, which was waged by four Montenegrin dynasties, the international recognition was a grandiose success that was crowned by the last ruler of the last Montenegrin dynasty — great Prince and later King Nikola I Petrovic Njegos.

In addition to its enduring aspirations throughout the history, Montenegro also owes its restored independence to its 13th July Antifascist Movement and referendum vote of its citizen. It was Antifascist Montenegro that commenced the restoration of independence that was unjustly taken away at the Podgorica Assembly, to be finally brought to a completion by the will of its citizens expressed in the referendum.

Therefore, restoration of independence of Montenegro implies two great and everlasting values of our state — anti-fascism and multiethnic and multi-religious harmony.

Knowing that they fought against the greatest global evil, both in its essence and in its manifestation, Montenegrin antifascists also knew that the fight against fascism had to be used for restoration of our identity as a nation. Therefore, Montenegro owes eternal gratitude to Montenegrin and South Slavic antifascist movement, which recognized that it could not achieve its full worthiness if it ignored unfair loss of the sovereignty of Montenegro.

Multiethnic and multi-religious harmony of Montenegro, both historical and present, has been a foundation and guarantee of a truly equality of citizens and full freedom of their will. It was freely expressed will of the citizens in the referendum that brought to a completion the restoration of independence of our country, demonstrating and sending a message that it equally belongs to all regardless of national and religious distinctions.

It equally belongs to all regardless of political position on necessity of restoration of statehood. Everlasting respect and appreciation to those whose will was decisive in restoration of independence. Montenegro owes them for good. Respect to those who had different political opinion, but who, by taking part in referendum and recognizing its outcome, contributed to a high democratic appraisal of our state. Finally, after referendum, since we all are citizens of Montenegro and Montenegro is a country of all of us, let us be together, as only in this way can we build common European future.

It is exactly the need for further affirmation of Montenegro as a civil state with multiethnic and multi-religious accord and necessity of our European and Euro-Atlantic integration that obliges us to be united. Affirmation of the civil state which ensures full protection and promotion of minority rights, because there is no genuine and stabile civil state unless minorities feel it like their home.

Integration process of Montenegro is both strategic necessity and main commitment of our state and its society in general. Membership to the European Union is a prerequisite and guarantee of better life for all our citizens. It will, at the same time, confirm democratic values of Montenegro and quality and stability of its state institutions. For this reason, achievement of the EU standards is, first and foremost, a necessity of Montenegro itself. Achieved level of development, quality of our resources and political and overall agreement of our society on necessity of the EU integration, guarantee fast achievement of the standards of the European Union. Once EU standards are achieved in Montenegro, the integration of our state will be the responsibility of the EU, in accordance with its principle to merit the individual progress of each state, ensuring, also, equal treatment of those that achieved the same standards. Finally, twenty seven EU member states know that Montenegro was independent state at the time when the international community was comprised of exactly the same number of states.

Having in mind the value and importance of the security integrations, strategic necessity of Montenegro is also to become member of NATO, taking due account of both security reasons and economic and political benefits that the Euro-Atlantic integration would bring. Political position and economic value of a state significantly depends on its security integration. This principally relates to the small countries, particularly the Western Balkan countries. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to fully inform our public about the advantages of NATO integration.

To such Montenegro that ensures better life for all its citizens, democratic values equally important for all and European and Euro-Atlantic integrations equally beneficial for all, I shall dedicate my next term of office as President.

Filip Vujanović,
May 20, 2008, Cetinje, Montenegro.